Jacob Webb's rare stumble ends streak in Cubs walk-off loss

Jacob Webb surrendered a walk-off two-run homer to Randy Arozarena on Saturday, ending his 24 consecutive scoreless appearances and handing the Chicago Cubs a 5-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners. The rare stumble from one of Craig Counsell's most trusted relievers marked Chicago's second straight walk-off defeat at T-Mobile Park. Entering the ninth with a 4-2 lead, Webb had been the steady anchor of a bullpen tested by injuries all season.

Key Takeaways

• Jacob Webb allowed three runs in the ninth, including Arozarena's 404-foot walk-off homer off a hung slider.
• Webb's 24-game scoreless streak ended; dating to 2000, only two other Cubs relievers have matched that feat in one season.
• The Cubs blew a late lead for their second consecutive walk-off loss to Seattle on Aug. 22, 2026.
• Counsell and starter David Peterson both said the outing does not change their confidence in Webb.
• Chicago's NL Wild Card lead narrowed to two games over the Philadelphia Phillies.

What happened in the ninth inning?

The Cubs entered the bottom of the ninth holding a 4-2 advantage at T-Mobile Park. Jacob Webb retired Cal Raleigh and Cole Young on back-to-back flyouts using just eight pitches, per the Chicago Tribune.

Weston Wilson then drove a fastball deep into right-center for a double. Leo Rivas, Seattle's walk-off hero from Friday night, followed with a soft RBI single to cut the lead to 4-3.

With Randy Arozarena at the plate, Webb got ahead 0-1 and turned to his slider—a pitch that has enhanced his arsenal in 2026. He intended to bury the offering but left it too high. Arozarena crushed it 404 feet to center field, beyond Pete Crow-Armstrong's reach, for a 5-4 Mariners win.

How long was Jacob Webb's scoreless streak?

Webb had not surrendered a run in 24 consecutive appearances covering 24 2/3 innings, his first runs allowed since June 20, according to MLB.com. Over that stretch, he lowered his season ERA from 3.90 to 2.21.

Dating to 2000, Webb is one of only three Cubs relievers to record at least 24 straight scoreless outings in a single season, joining Andrew Chafin (26 in 2021) and Mark Guthrie (24 in 2003).

The streak followed a self-described return to the drawing board after a tough five-game stretch earlier in the year. Webb then filled in as Chicago's closer while Daniel Palencia was on the injured list with an elbow injury.

Why does this loss matter for the Cubs?

Chicago fell to 74-56 and dropped its third straight game at an ill-timed moment in the standings. The Cubs still lead the National League Wild Card field but are six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

Their cushion over Philadelphia for the top wild-card spot shrank to just two games, with the Phillies riding an eight-game winning streak. Chicago holds the season tiebreaker, but the margin for error is narrowing.

Starter David Peterson, acquired from the New York Mets on June 25, held Seattle to two runs over six innings with eight strikeouts. Alex Bregman and Michael Busch supplied back-to-back homers in a three-run sixth, but the offense went hitless over the final three frames.

Will Craig Counsell still trust Jacob Webb?

Both Webb and Counsell framed Saturday as a single execution mistake rather than a trend. "Just some poor execution on my part," Webb said after the game. "I'm human. I've been blessed to go on that little stretch right there, but just refocus and get back out there."

Counsell was equally firm. "He's held this whole thing together for most of the year," the manager said. "Today doesn't change that. He's going to be out there the next time there's an opportunity."

Webb entered the outing with a 2.33 ERA, nine saves, and 61 strikeouts across 54 appearances in his first season with Chicago on a one-year, $1.5 million deal, per Heavy.com. Palencia, activated from the injured list Friday, praised the job Webb did in his absence. For broader trending coverage, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.